The Glasgow location is a bit of a surprise – you would have thought it would first pop up in London. But the BFI seemingly had no interest (no anime screened during the 57th London Film Festival) and no other festival suitable to show the Studio Ghibli film has yet come up. While Kaze Tachinu did not make it onto the Scotland Loves Anime programme back in October (not for lack of interest on their part I have been told), the SLA people likely had a hand in arranging this Glasgow screening – kudos to the Scottish people! That said, I do wonder if the Glasgow screening is the UK premiere, as it is not actually labelled as such on the festival website.

I am also not sure what to make of the 3:45 pm screening time of Kaze Tachinu – that’s not exactly prime time. The film is programmed as part of the festival’s Youth strand, but it still makes me feel that Studio Ghibli’s animations are underappreciated in this part of the world.

Blue Exorcist.

Kaze Tachinu won’t be the only anime screening at the Glasgow Film Festival, as「青の祓魔師（エクソシスト)」 (Ao no Ekusoshisut/Blue Exorcist, Japan, 2013) is on the programme for the same day as well, plus a Mystery Anime (with a Cosplay Red Carpet Parade). Could it be「かぐや姫の藻語り」(Kaguya Hime no Monogatari/Princess Kaguya, Japan, 2013)? Probably not very likely, although it’s not entirely impossible given that this Ghibli film was released in Japan last month. The mystery film however does have a better time slot: it’s showing at 7 pm. The organiser swrite: “Look out for clues on GYFF Twitter and Facebook leading up to the screening and see if you can guess what’s coming!”

*Actually, it’s not the festival catalogue but the January/February brochure for the Glasgow Film Theatre (which includes December listings too). Talk about confusing!

Bonus Bits:

The actual Glasgow Film Festival runs from February 20 – March 2, 2014. Kaze Tachinu screens as part of the Glasgow Youth Film Festival (Feb 2-12, 2014), which is one of the ‘subtests’ of the GFF (a bit confusing IMO!). Tickets will go on sale on January 24. Early Bird passes will be available from January 5. Update: it seems it is possible to book tickets already now. Thanks to @hammoo for the tip.

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Looks like the organisers have categorised The Wind Rises as kiddies fare if it’s screening along side Blue Exorcist. It’ll be interesting to see what the other mystery film is… We’ve had most of the major titles that have been released this year in Japan screened at other festivals… I’ll have to think about this one…

Well, it does come with “age 12 and up” billing, but, I agree – 4 pm in the afternoon on a Sunday… x_x Well, maybe they haven’t quite made it kiddie fare, but it’s not getting quite the recognition it should IMO.

Yeah, I can’t think of anything either, other than Kaguya Hime, but I am not all that well-versed in J-animation film releases. I suppose there is a tiny chance for Kaguya, maybe maybe…